Wizards Training Camp 2020-21

[J-Ves]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

I would advise against that if their goal is to sneak into the playoffs

[Ruzious]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

But if you read Beal's lips, he's really saying "B___, you bleep up, and your going back to Israel to fight in the army."

[nate33]

Man, Avdija towers over Beal.

[payitforward]

It's great to be able to listen in to a conversation like that. Kind of incredible, really, how close you can get to what's really happening among these players. Of course, it's pleasing as well to see how thoughtful, mature & helpful Brad is. The real deal. The real Brad Beal.

[doclinkin]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

Not in todays scrimmage. He is wearing the Blue jersey, that is the 2nd squad. Maybe the first few scrimmages they tried him with the Grey team? Doesn't matter, without Bertans being able to practice we don't really know what the starters and rotation is likely to be. Today it looks like both Deni and Rui were playing on the Blue team.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

But if you read Beal's lips, he's really saying "B___, you bleep up, and your going back to Israel to fight in the army."

That’s what he was saying now.

Y’all better hope I’m not as right as I feel about Jalen Smith, who’s already getting praise form his coach and teammates. I’m mystified as to how people couldn’t see how good offensively Smith is going to be.

I hope I’m wrong about Deni.

[doclinkin]

David Adkins is awesome. I like that guy:

Watch on YouTube

;feature=emb_logo

[Ruzious]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

But if you read Beal's lips, he's really saying "B___, you bleep up, and your going back to Israel to fight in the army."

That’s what he was saying now.

Y’all better hope I’m not as right as I feel about Jalen Smith, who’s already getting praise form his coach and teammates. I’m mystified as to how people couldn’t see how good offensively Smith is going to be.

I hope I’m wrong about Deni.

Jalen's going to be very good, but I think Devi will be a little better because of his ball-handling and passing. It'll be fun to watch them as they earn more playing time.

[DCZards]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

I took that to mean that Deni would be playing major minutes as a rookie...not necessarily that he would be starting.

[NatP4]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

I took that to mean that Deni would be playing major minutes as a rookie...not necessarily that he would be starting.

Brooks talked about this in his media availability, they essentially have had Westbrook, Beal, Rui, and Bryant in white jerseys for the 1st unit, and it looks like they have rotated in Avdija and Robinson atleast(not sure about brown and Bonga). Brooks said Avdija didn’t miss a beat, blended in with the starting unit and that they were “dynamic” as a whole.

From all the footage and quotes so far, I think Avdija might actually be the starter.

[Rafael122]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

I took that to mean that Deni would be playing major minutes as a rookie...not necessarily that he would be starting.

Brooks talked about this in his media availability, they essentially have had Westbrook, Beal, Rui, and Bryant in white jerseys for the 1st unit, and it looks like they have rotated in Avdija and Robinson atleast(not sure about brown and Bonga). Brooks said Avdija didn’t miss a beat, blended in with the starting unit and that they were “dynamic” as a whole.

From all the footage and quotes so far, I think Avdija might actually be the starter.

Something I read on the Ringer:

Westbrook’s teammates have finished in the top three in points per game six times in those nine seasons

If Deni starts, he legitimately has a shot at rookie of the year.

[gambitx777]

If his defence is as sneaky advanced as people say it is. You might wanna test the kids metal early.bring bertains off the bench and he can melt bench defensive units like butter or start him at the 4 and bring rui off the bench with brown and Bonga. Bonga looks a little bigger too which is really good because I think you want him at the 4, if he's strong enough. Almost every forward we have can play both spots and it's really good and a few of them can play the 2.

Sent from my SM-G965U1 using RealGM mobile app

[doclinkin]

"I was thrown right into the fire like you were."

So Avidja is the starting SF?

I took that to mean that Deni would be playing major minutes as a rookie...not necessarily that he would be starting.

Yeah until we see Bertans next to Westbrook I don't think we have a set starting unit or rotation.

[NatP4]

According to Brooks, we have a set 1,2,4,5.

Brown, Avdija, Bonga, Robinson are competing for the starting 3 spot

[doclinkin]

According to Brooks, we have a set 1,2,4,5.

Brown, Avdija, Bonga, Robinson are competing for the starting 3 spot

Maybe. Rui played with the 2nd squad yesterday, next to Avdija it looks like. I would not be startled if we ended the year with a line of:

Russ -- attacks the rim always. When stopped he switches to an inefficient pull up jumper.
Beal -- range, ball handling attack, his efficiency drops if he doesn't have room to do both. Davis' numbers raised Brad's efficiency.
Deni -- moves the ball, plays solid team defense, makes smart cuts and passes. IF his 3pt shot has improved as suggested then he opens the floor even more. Still he is smart enough to see when to cut and provide a passing target if the drive is blocked. Euro experience serves him well here.
Bertans -- range allows both Russ and Beal room to operate on the attack. Brad driving against a single defender has been a source of free throw attempts, driving his scoring numbers up.
Bryant -- a pick and roll pick and pop threat for Russ to work with. Under Brooks Russ had far higher pick and roll numbers than in Houston where he was in their iso heavy game.

I think Davis opens up Russ game, where Rui may clog the floor. I get that they are trying to develop Rui, but I think he may develop confidence attacking overmatched 2nd line players. Next to Russ he is not going to be The Man and may be starved for touches and show less utility. Maybe he learns the pick and roll game. Maybe they figure Russ will teach him what to do when he is not scoring. Maybe this unleashes his upside, confidence. He is smooth, has a nice shot, Russ will improve the rebounding that Rui lacks the fire and instincts to go get. Maybe he will inspire him. Alright, excellent. I think we are wasting a significant resource though when we leave Bertans off the floor. If Hachi is inked in, then we still might see that a Russ/Brad/Davis/Rui/Bryant line could make sense.

[Ruzious]

Brooks particularly gushed when he said he could see Westbrook playing with 4 knockdown 3 point shooters. Presumably he meant Beal, Bertans, Bryant, and... I don't know. But it is clear that he wants Westbrook to play with 3 point shooters - so it's likely that most of Bertans' minutes will be with Westbrook on the floor.

[nate33]

Brooks particularly gushed when he said he could see Westbrook playing with 4 knockdown 3 point shooters. Presumably he meant Beal, Bertans, Bryant, and... I don't know. But it is clear that he wants Westbrook to play with 3 point shooters - so it's likely that most of Bertans' minutes will be with Westbrook on the floor.

There are only so many 3-point shooters to go around - particularly ones who can defend with any competency. If you put them all on the floor with Westbrook, then who is going to space the floor when Westbrook sits? You don't want a bench lineup of Ish, Brown, Bonga, Hachimura and Lopez with no respectable 3-point shooters.

Brooks gushing about Westbrook alongside 3-point shooters isn't necessarily an indication that he will start that kind of lineup. It's more about how that type of lineup in crunch time could wreak havoc.

I really don't think Bertans will start. I don't think he has the frame to be a full time power forward who bangs against the opposition's starter, and I think the team will be better off with a more defensive-minded small forward in the starting unit to guard the opposition's best wing since none of Westbrook, Beal or Bryant aren't known for their defense.

Bertans will still get 28 minutes a night and finish games. And I do like the idea of him sharing the court with Westbrook a lot. I think that can be accomplished by sitting Westbrook early and then bringing him back on the floor with the 2nd unit.

I still think the starting lineup will be Westbrook, Beal, Hachimura and Bryant. The small forward will probably be Bonga but possibly Avdija if his defense and 3-point shooting are better than expected, or Troy Brown if his defense has improved.

[NatP4]

I should add that I messed up the quote about the starting 3. Brooks also mentioned Bertans

[NatP4]

I think we need to slow the hype train down on Bertans. He is still a poor defender and and awful rebounder. There is no way he should be starting. He’s a 3pt specialist 6th or 7th man type in my opinion.

Brown, Avdija, Bonga, and Hachimura are the future. Developing them is far more important. Start the top 10 pick.

[prime1time]

According to Brooks, we have a set 1,2,4,5.

Brown, Avdija, Bonga, Robinson are competing for the starting 3 spot

Maybe. Rui played with the 2nd squad yesterday, next to Avdija it looks like. I would not be startled if we ended the year with a line of:

Russ -- attacks the rim always. When stopped he switches to an inefficient pull up jumper.
Beal -- range, ball handling attack, his efficiency drops if he doesn't have room to do both. Davis' numbers raised Brad's efficiency.
Deni -- moves the ball, plays solid team defense, makes smart cuts and passes. IF his 3pt shot has improved as suggested then he opens the floor even more. Still he is smart enough to see when to cut and provide a passing target if the drive is blocked. Euro experience serves him well here.
Bertans -- range allows both Russ and Beal room to operate on the attack. Brad driving against a single defender has been a source of free throw attempts, driving his scoring numbers up.
Bryant -- a pick and roll pick and pop threat for Russ to work with. Under Brooks Russ had far higher pick and roll numbers than in Houston where he was in their iso heavy game.

I think Davis opens up Russ game, where Rui may clog the floor. I get that they are trying to develop Rui, but I think he may develop confidence attacking overmatched 2nd line players. Next to Russ he is not going to be The Man and may be starved for touches and show less utility. Maybe he learns the pick and roll game. Maybe they figure Russ will teach him what to do when he is not scoring. Maybe this unleashes his upside, confidence. He is smooth, has a nice shot, Russ will improve the rebounding that Rui lacks the fire and instincts to go get. Maybe he will inspire him. Alright, excellent. I think we are wasting a significant resource though when we leave Bertans off the floor. If Hachi is inked in, then we still might see that a Russ/Brad/Davis/Rui/Bryant line could make sense.

Westbrook has lead the league in assists so I think your narrative is selling him short. Rui shot high 30% from 3 after he came back from injury. I expect his attempts to go up, and if teams insist on leaving him to help I’m willing to live with him shooting that open 3. Also, if you hear Bryant tell it he was injured for most of the year and finally healthy in the bubble. In the bubble he shot enough 3’s at a good enough percentage to raise his 3-point percentage for the year to 40%. He said he’s put a lot of work on his 3’s so hopefully Coach Brooks will give him the green light. We can run some pick and roll, but I’ll be fine if we just turn Bryant into stretch 5. And play a 5 out offense. Hard to say precisely what this team will be, but it does have potential.

Imo, our offense will be good. The question is can we stop anyone.